At first I told myself I was gonna smooth out all the runners and comb. chamber. Well after a little while I started grinding on the outside of the heads; now im smoothing out the outside surface. Then I started doing everything with the rough textured surface. By the time Im done there will be no rough spots and it will look like a piece of billet steel.

Anyone else smooth the outside of their heads? I like the idea that they are gonna be smooth and not that rough sand texture.

I wonder if by reducing your head's surface area by making them smooth, if they will cool as well? Probably not any noticable difference. Sounds pretty neat. Gonna post some pics?

I was thinking of doing the same, but with my attention span I was worried I would end up quiting have way through one.

Later
Steve

Ya as soon as I get a camera ill post some pics. Steve, I have the same attention span as you. I hope it dont happens with this, so far im good.

With old aluminums it was a no-brainer. Much easier to keep clean!

I wish I had done the front of my block, just abouve the timing cover. Its so 'sandy' of a texture, its wicked hard to keep clean.

Also wish I had the time on my hands to do stuff like this again. :(

Gene, as soon as I get a block, Im gonna do the same thing to it; inside and out. I dont have much time; I go to school from 215 to 845 on weekdays. I only have the weekend to do this. And I dont wanna get up early to do this; it wont be as fun.

Rob, I would spend ( as I did) more time on the inside of the block. Ground all the flash away from the cam galley, etc. I still could touch the front up, it is a bugger to keep clean.

It won't effect cooling by any major degree. Many street rod guys do this and polish the aluminum heads, also.

What have you been using to do this rob? Die grinder and sanding rolls? What grits?

If you finish you will be rewarded with a slick appearance....if you don't it ends up looking like crap (this is from personal experience) also if you have a new Dremel tool and say "this will work perfect" think again!! they're more toy than tool. Good luck, stay patient.

Im using a combo of a drill and dremel. For the drill I have this 1 inch round tapered grinding stone and a conical metal tearer awayer(so I call it) For the dremel Im using sanding rolls of 100 grit i believe. I use the drill and bits on the outside to gring away those huge casting edges, and the dremel to smooth it all down and to get into tight places.

I find that I have excellent control with the drill. I wont be using it on the ports though.

Gene, Ill be doing the lifter valley area and the timing chain area. Then the whole outside.

I just hope I dont blow the motor up cause then this would all be a big waste of time. graemlins/angry.gif